Establish teams at the 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U levels that compete in ASA and USSSA sanctioned tournaments during the summer softball season.

Teams will be formed from players that have participated in the SCYSA recreational leagues. Partnerships with other cities as well as inter-city and league transfers will be reviewed by the Force Committee and approved by the Board as needed.

The long term goal for the Force program is to field teams at each age level. In years where interest and registration is high, we will strive to field 2 (or more) teams at each age level. In years of lower interest or when there are not enough players to field reasonably competitive teams, then only one team at a given age level may be formed.
The Summer Force travel program is more competitive than the spring and fall recreational leagues, and there is no guarantee that all interested players will be placed on a team. While the league will make every effort to include as many interested young women as possible, emphasis will also be placed on ensuring the teams formed are able to reasonably compete and create a positive experience for all involved.

Team formation will be approved by the Board, after receiving recommendations submitted by the Force Committee, based on the performance of the players during the recreational league season and at one or more Force tryout/skills assessments. In forming the teams, consideration will be given to following:

1. Establishing a highly competitive team at each age level
2. Ensuring each additional team formed has the pitching and catching experience necessary to compete throughout the summer
3. Giving proper consideration to not only the current season but future Force seasons so that the program can continually sustain momentum from year to year
4. Adequate and experienced coaching for each team
5. Feedback provided to the Force Committee by the prospective coaches

The specific procedure for team formation may vary slightly from year to year and division to division based on factors such as the number of registrants, age and abilities of the players, and ASA/USSSA level of play rules. In all cases, however, the above 5 factors will be the basis for team formation.

The level of play rules established by the governing bodies may change over time. Each year the Force Committee will review the level of play rules and modify this provision as necessary.

The first team formed at each age level will be designed to compete on the ASA circuit. Based on the assessment from the Force Committee and under the guidance of the SCYSA Board, the team will be registered as an ASA-B level or will request to be leveled as an ASA-C team through the governing body. Note that all teams are considered by ASA as an ASA-B team until otherwise approved by the ASA governing body. The second and any additional teams at the age level will complete as an ASA-C level team (pending ASA approval) and/or the USSSA tournament circuit.

In the event that ASA or other governing body rules require that a team be registered at a level above where the Force Committee and Board deem appropriate, the league will work with said governing body on an appeal process to ensure that the team is placed appropriately. The appeal process will begin as soon as the issue is identified, and the Committee and Board will do its best to ensure that the other teams at the age level are not impacted as a result of the appeal.

Coaches for the Force program must be committed to the league mission of advancing the skills of our young women through a positive, character-building experience that results in better athletes and, more importantly, better people. Individuals interested in coaching a Force team should contact the Force Committee Chair or an SCYSA Board Member and may be asked to complete an application and/or participate in an interview process. Head coach selections will be presented to the Board by the Force Committee based on their experience and ability to develop our teams in a manner consistent with the league mission. Roster selection will be independent of coach selection, but coaches may provide input regarding potential rosters. Coaches will select their team managers and assistant coaches with guidance and oversight from the Force Committee. All coaches and team managers must be ASA Certified and comply with all ASA and SCYSA requirements.

Teams will compete in up to six tournaments during the season, with the possibility of one or more additional tournaments should the team qualify for regionals. It is expected that players are available for all tournaments as these games are competitive in nature, and there is limited opportunity to pull in players from lower divisions. Should a family have a conflict with any weekend during the season, that should be disclosed in advance so that coaches have enough time to adjust the schedule and/or fill in the roster as needed. Games typically are played Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. Tournaments are usually in the greater Bay Area, and teams may have the opportunity to travel to Central or Southern California or even out of state. Families should anticipate travel as part of the program and some travel may require overnight stays.

For our host tournament held over Memorial Day Weekend, it is expected that every family will volunteer to work shifts to help support the tournament. A sign-up sheet will be made available in advance of the tournament along with the volunteer requirement for each family. The MacPherson tournament provides essential revenue for the program to help keep registration costs down and fund equipment and other Force expenses. Your volunteerism is much appreciated!
In order to prepare for their upcoming games, most teams will practice at least twice during the week. Practices typically begin in early May. ASA-B level teams are permitted to start practices during the Spring season, and the league will help coordinate conflicts that may arise. Due to the competitive nature of these games, players should place a priority on attending softball practices.
There is no minimum playing time required for individual players. Coaches will be encouraged to find opportunities for all players to actively participate in games. Most tournaments are divided into pool play and bracket (elimination) play. For pool play, all players shall have an opportunity to participate both offensively and defensively. During elimination play, a greater emphasis is placed on winning, and coaches will be encouraged to give their team the best chance of winning and moving on to the next round. Note that during the summer season, there are critical situational roles for players including pinch-runner, designated player (“DP” - similar to a designated hitter in baseball), and Flex (designated fielder). For more information, see the Flex/DP summary posted on the Force section of the SCYSA website.

If you have questions, please contact the Force Program Coordinator, Eric Madia at scbroncos@yahoo.com.

ASA Roadshow Presentation - a summary of rule changes and the ASA team level guidelines
http://www.norcalasa.org/pdf/2019_NorCal_Roadshow.pdf

DP / Flex Rule - an explanation
http://kelownafastball.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DPFlexRuleExplained.pdf